Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

वाच्यं तु परमं ब्रह्म वाचकः प्रणवः स्मृतः । वाच्यवाचकसंबन्धो ह्युपचारात्तयोर्द्विजा ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

vācyaṃ tu paramaṃ brahma vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ smṛtaḥ | vācyavācakasaṃbandho hyupacārāttayordvijā || 57 ||

Translation

إن البراهمان الأسمى هو المُشارُ إليه (فاجيا)، والبرانافا «أوم» مذكورٌ بوصفه المُشير (فاجاكا). يا ذوي الولادتين، فإن صلةَ المُشار إليه بالمُشير لا تُقال إلا على سبيل الاصطلاح والمجاز.

Word by Word

• वाच्यम्: denotable (that which is meant)
• वाच्यम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक; from वच् with यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective: 'that which is to be denoted'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of ब्रह्म

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाचकः: denoter, signifier
• वाचकः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक; from वच् with ण्वुल्)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate noun

• प्रणवः: the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with प्रणवः; passive sense 'is considered'

• वाच्य: the denoted (meaning)
• वाच्य: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; in compound, stem form

• वाचक: the denoter (word)
• वाचक: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; in compound, stem form

• सम्बन्धः: relation, connection
• सम्बन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वाच्यवाचकसम्बन्धः: the relation of denoted and denoter
• वाच्यवाचकसम्बन्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाचक (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: वाच्यस्य वाचकस्य च सम्बन्धः (relation between meaning and word)

• हि: indeed
• हि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• उपचारात्: due to figurative usage (upacāra)
• उपचारात्: Hetu (हेतु/Ablative of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/ablative), एकवचन

• तयोः: of the two (of them)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada and other dvijas in the Moksha-oriented discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Praṇava (Oṃ)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It clarifies that Oṃ (Praṇava) functions as a sacred indicator of the Supreme Brahman, but the link between word and Absolute is ultimately conventional—guiding the seeker from sound (mantra) toward direct realization (brahma-jñāna).

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By presenting Oṃ as a revered pointer to Brahman, it supports mantra-upāsanā (devotional contemplation through sacred sound), where devotion uses a symbol (Praṇava) to steady the mind on the Supreme.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vyākaraṇa/Nirukta-style insight into meaning: the vācya–vācaka (signified–signifier) relation is not literal identity but a taught convention, important for correct mantra interpretation and disciplined recitation.